Islamic State claimed responsibility on Wednesday (November 25) for an attack on a Tunisian presidential guard bus, an official statement from the group said.
The group released a still photograph of a man said to be Abu Abdullah Al Tunisi they described as the one strapped with the bomb on the bus.
“Abu Abdullah Al Tunisi, wearing his explosive belt, who was on the presidential guard bus in Tunis,” the caption on the photograph read.
“God has enabled a fighter from our martyrs, our brother Abu Adullah Al Tunisi, to plant himself into a bus carrying some of the presidential guard in (Mohammad V street) in the middle of the Tunisian capital. Once he reached his target he triggered his explosive belt to kill almost 20 apostates and injure tens others. Let the tyrants of Tunis know they are not safe, and we will not rest until God’s law will reign in Tunis. (from Koran) God has full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not,” another part of their statement read.
Tunisian authorities said on Wednesday (November 25) a suicide bomber carried out the attack a day earlier on a presidential guard bus, killing at least 12 people and forcing the government to impose a nationwide state of emergency.
The explosion on a main boulevard in the capital drove home the vulnerability of Tunisia to Islamist militancy, following gun assaults on a seaside tourist hotel in June and the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March, both claimed by Islamic State.
Tunisia has increasingly become a target for militants after being hailed as a beacon of democratic change in the Arab world since its 2011 uprising ousted autocrat Zine Abidine Ben Ali.
It was the first suicide bombing in the capital.
An Interior Ministry statement said 12 guards died in the blast of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of explosive located either in the bomber’s backpack or a belt he was wearing.
Another body at the scene was likely that of the bomber.
Around Tunis on Wednesday, troops and armed police patrolled the city streets and set up checkpoints searching vehicles and pedestrians.
At Tunis international airport security forces were allowing in only people with booked flights.
Security officials said the bomber blew himself up as presidential guards were boarding a bus on Mohamed V Avenue to travel to the presidential palace for duty.
One of the most secular Arab countries, Tunisia has enjoyed relative stability since its uprising compared with neighbours Libya and Egypt.
It has a new constitution, held free elections and established compromise politics between secular and Islamist parties that has allowed some progress.
But fighting Islamist militants has become a major challenge for a country heavily reliant on tourism for its revenues.
In the early chaotic days after its revolution, ultra-conservative Islamists gained ground, recruiting among young Tunisians and taking over mosques.
More than 3,000 Tunisians are now fighting for Islamic State or other militant groups in Iraq, Syria and neighbouring Libya. Some have threatened to return to stage attacks in Tunisia.
The gunmen in the Sousse hotel and Bardo Museum attacks were all trained in jihadist camps in Libya. (Reuters)
